2014 World Hockey League, Delhi, India

The first ever Hockey World League ended today
with the Netherlands being crowned champions. New Zealand took the silver medal
and England the bronze. Current world number 2 side Australia finished a
disappointing fourth.

New Zealand v The Netherlands 2-7 (0-3)

The Netherlands looked comfortable and cruised
easily to a 7-2 victory over the New Zealand Black-Sticks. Such a high scoring
game was a little unexpected in a final between two of the top teams in the
world, although The Netherlands were always a firm favorite to lift the title.

Dutch captain Robert van der Horst said: “This
was a very good result, we knew we were able to play hard, and we needed to
stick to our game plan, which is speeding up and skilful hockey. However the
final score of 7-2 is unbelievable.”

Constantijn Jonkers (17') scored the first of
his three goals from an almost impossible angle past Devon Manchester in the
Black Sticks goal. The Netherlands turned up the pressure in the last 15
minutes of the first half, winning two penalty corners and keeping the Black
Sticks pinned in their half of the pitch. Billy Bakker added a secon for the
Orange Men in the 23 minute as the men in black struggled to cope with the
ferocity of the Dutch attack. The Netherlands third goal came on the
stroke of half time when a ball fired in from the midfield found Jonkers who
deflected the ball past Manchester.

In the second half, the Netherlands started
where they finished with a blistering start. Bob de Voogd put the Netherlands
4-0 up in the 36 minute followed by and then Steve Edwards in the 37 minute to
put the Black Sticks on the score sheet at 4-1.The game continued to be very
open, with both teams seeking long passes to penetrate the defence, but again
it was the Netherlands who made pressure tell, Rogier Hofman 45 minute scoring the
fifth goal and putting the game all but out of the Black Sticks
reach. Edwards scored his second for the Black Sticks but then Bakker
added his second, again a field goal that bounced around the circle before the
tall Dutchman fired it home. Minutes later Jonker got his third goal after
running onto a ball fired into the circle and tipping it home.

Player of the tournament Robbert Kemperman said
that “It is a great feeling, we really wanted that win, I am really proud and
everyone put an effort into the win." Asked about his individual
award, Kemperman said that it was a “nice extra.” Black Sticks skipper
Dean Couzins admitted that he felt “pretty disappointed” after the loss, but
said that when the team had a chance to reflect on the overall performance they
would be pleased with the steps they had taken. This was a sentiment
echoed by coach Colin Batch. “We didn’t come out to play in the first half, but
we were much better in the second half. By then it was too late and we were hit
by the goals either side of the half. But, we never expected a silver medal and
it is a big step forwards for the team.”

The winning coach Paul van Ass said: “We are
heading back to the top again. We are really pleased with the way this
tournament has gone, especially with wins over Germany and Australia.” He added
that with results such as India beating Germany and Argentina‘s win against the
Netherlands early in the tournament, the gap between the teams was closing.

Australia must have been bitterly disappointed
to have let this game slip through their finges as they dominated the game from
the start. Never the less, England were first to draw blood when Tom Carson
(13’) converted a pass from close range but the Kookaburras fought back
immediately thanks to a Glenn Turner (16’) strike. The world champions put
a lot of pressure on the English defence but goalkeeper George Pinner pulled
off some tremendous saves and it was England team-captain Barry Middleton (54’)
who broke the deadlock, deflecting a pass by Ashley Jackson into the goal
making it 2-1.

Australia continued to hammer away at the
England goal in vain. They seemed to have lost confidence with their short
corner routine which was continually thwarted by a determined England defence.

Their last chance to equalise was from a
penalty corner awarded in the last minute. Glenn Turner’s shot found its way
into the goal but umpire Roel van Eert called the video umpire to check. The
video umpire’s decision was no goal and England won 2-1. Hero Man of the
Match Iain Lewers, said: "We have come a long way in the past nine months.
We were very disappointed in the semi finals, but we did really well to come
back." George Pinner, who is celebrating his 27th birthday added:
"Today was the team you saw in the first four games. It was agonising to
lose in the semi finals on a shoot out, so it really shows the calibre of this
team to pick itself up. The main thing that we did today was defend bravely. We
know that games can be won through penalty corners, so we have made it our
focus not to concede so many."

Ric Charlesworth, the Australian coach, said: "We were too
loose at the back. We allowed them to score from very few chances and we didn't
put our chances away as we should have done. But, it has been a great
experience, especially for the younger guys. They have had a chance to
experience playing against very tough opposition."

Semi Final Report

The finals of the Hero Hockey World league will
be fought out between New Zealand and The Netherlands. World Number 2 team
Australia will take on England for the bronze medal. Both semi-finals were hard
fought matches.

England had beaten New Zealand 5-1in the round
games and were favorites to go through to the finals. New Zealand had different
plans however and held England to a draw in normal time. The Kiwis held firm in
the penalty shoot-out downing England 7 goals to 6 and going through to the
inaugural Hockey World League final.

Hero Man of the Match Simon Child said We were
really disappointed with our first match against England, losing 1-5, so we are
pleased to have turned that around."

The New Zealanders began the match in fine form
and earned four penalty corners in quick
succession but all attempts were thwarted by the England keeper George Pinner.

In the 12th minute, Marcus Child
converted the first goal for the Black Sticks before England came back with a
goal of their own from Harry Martin in the 23 minute. Martin dived at full
streach to convert a cross from Mark Gleghorn. Early in the second half England
once again hit the front when Gleghorn fired home from the right side of the
circle to give England the lead. The Kiwis hit back again in the 61st
minute and 62nd minute with 2 quick fire goals from Jeness and Inglis. 2 minutes later
Ashley Jackson scored the equalizer for England to tie up the game once again.
That was the way the game finished in normal time.

A penalty shoot-out ensued and the scores were
again all even after the initial 5 penalty shuttles taken by each team.

England coach, Bobby Crutchley, said: "I
thought the shoot out would last forever, but that shows the high quality. The
pressure under which both teams played in the shoot out was impressive. I am
not totally happy with today's performance." And winning coach Batch said:
"We are doing well on shoot outs, it was the difference between winning or
losing. The shoot out lasts so long because the players are technically good
and the goal keepers are getting better and better. Devon Manchester was
outstanding. After our poor start, a lot of people will be surprised to see us
in the final."

New Zealand will be joined by the Netherlands
in the final after they won their semi final 4-3 against Australia. Constantijn
Jonker (12’) opened the scoring at the beginning of the first half when his
reverse stick shot found its way into the net and the Dutch doubled their lead
when Mink van der Weerden’s (20’) dragflick left the Aussie keeper Tyler Lovell
stranded.

The match swung Australia's way in the second
half. The first Kookaburra goal came out of two minutes of intense Aussie
pressure on the Dutch goal and Kieran Govers (42’) was able to capitalize on a
penalty corner. Five minutes later Russell Ford (47’) levelled the score to 2-2
when deflecting a long pass into Jaap Stockmann’s goal. The world champions
fought hard to get another one and it came courtesy of Govers (55’) who fired
home a penalty corner. This was his sixth goal in this competition making him
the new top scorer of the Hero Hockey World League Final.

Jeroen Hertzberger (62’) brought the
Netherlands back into the race by equalising from open play. With four minutes
remaining van der Weerden (66’) put the game beyond Australia’s reach when
converting his second penalty corner. Hero Man of the Match, Van der Weerden
said: "It was a great game, we all played well, and when necessary we
fought back very well. Australia played a great game." Bob de Voogd added:
"We knew that Australia would press in the second half, but we reacted in
time and didn't panic."

Speaking about the forthcoming final match
against New Zealand de Voogd said: "We haven't played New Zealand yet, but
they are like Australia, straight forward and direct. We need to stick to our
game plan." The Australian captain, Mark Knowles, said: "When you
play in a semi final you always want to win. We played with courage, but we
also gave them some easy options."

Govers said: "This tournament has been a
massive learning curve. We had some new players in our squad so it was good for
them to be exposed to playing some of the best players in the world." Both
Govers and Knowles said they were looking forward to tomorrow's match against
England for third place.